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| Australia hit by early stages of Cyclone Rusty | Australia hit by early stages of Cyclone Rusty |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| Australia's north-west coast is being buffeted by high winds, hours before a powerful cyclone is expected to make landfall as a category four storm. | Australia's north-west coast is being buffeted by high winds, hours before a powerful cyclone is expected to make landfall as a category four storm. |
| Weather experts say that the slow speed of Cyclone Rusty is likely to prompt extensive flooding. | Weather experts say that the slow speed of Cyclone Rusty is likely to prompt extensive flooding. |
| As much as 600mm of rain (24in) was being forecast over a 24-hour period. | As much as 600mm of rain (24in) was being forecast over a 24-hour period. |
| "We're talking Noah's Ark," one forecaster said. "We're expecting a phenomenal amount of rainfall." | "We're talking Noah's Ark," one forecaster said. "We're expecting a phenomenal amount of rainfall." |
| Cyclone Rusty was upgraded to a category four storm early on Wednesday, one notch short of the top category. | Cyclone Rusty was upgraded to a category four storm early on Wednesday, one notch short of the top category. |
| At its centre, it had intensified to a strength of 230km/h (143mph), with satellite data indicating the eye of the storm was 20 nautical miles wide, Australian media reported. | At its centre, it had intensified to a strength of 230km/h (143mph), with satellite data indicating the eye of the storm was 20 nautical miles wide, Australian media reported. |
| Ferocious | Ferocious |
| The arrival of Rusty north of the coastal town of Port Hedland has already closed the three main iron ore ports in the Pilbara region, the world's largest source of iron ore. | The arrival of Rusty north of the coastal town of Port Hedland has already closed the three main iron ore ports in the Pilbara region, the world's largest source of iron ore. |
| Port Hedland Deputy Mayor George Daccache told the Australian Associated Press (AAP) news agency that the winds and rain had been "relentless for the past two or three days". | |
| "We are riding out the storm the best we can but we have been on alert since last Friday and looks like we will be on red for another day or so," he said. | |
| Officials say the cyclone sat almost stationary overnight, 130km (80 miles) north-east of Port Hedland. The exact time the most ferocious part of it will hit land remains uncertain, AAP reports, although it is widely expected to be later on Wednesday. | |
| As the storm gathers strength, its strong winds have whipped up six-metre (20ft) waves. | |
| People in Port Hedland have been stocking up on essentials following warnings to take shelter. With storm surges expected, other low-lying areas have been evacuated. | People in Port Hedland have been stocking up on essentials following warnings to take shelter. With storm surges expected, other low-lying areas have been evacuated. |
| "We are likely to see communities impacted by dangerous and destructive winds for quite a considerable period of time because of the slow movement of the storm," Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Mike Bergin said. | "We are likely to see communities impacted by dangerous and destructive winds for quite a considerable period of time because of the slow movement of the storm," Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Mike Bergin said. |
| Officials have also warned that it is important that local people understand that dangerous conditions will commence "well before the system centre reaches the coast". | |
| "We could see some gusts getting up to nearly 250km/h," forecaster Neil Bennett told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. | "We could see some gusts getting up to nearly 250km/h," forecaster Neil Bennett told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation. |
| "Some rainfall totals may be as much as 600 millimetres in a 24-hour period." | "Some rainfall totals may be as much as 600 millimetres in a 24-hour period." |
| The bureau has warned that the equivalent of Perth's entire winter rainfall could fall in just three days. | The bureau has warned that the equivalent of Perth's entire winter rainfall could fall in just three days. |
| Have you been affected by Cyclone Rusty? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. | Have you been affected by Cyclone Rusty? Send us your comments and experiences using the form below. |
| Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. | Send your pictures and videos to yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124 (UK) or +44 7624 800 100 (International). If you have a large file you can upload here. |
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